..Finally, TA was observed also in glial cells, a cellular population little explored so far. These results extend our knowledge on TA synaptic localization providing a clue to its potential role in synaptic development...

..Based on converging experimental and clinical evidence, we provide an overview of the role of striatal cholinergic transmission in physiological and pathological conditions, in the context of the pathogenesis of movement disorders...

..DYT1 dystonia, a severe form of genetically determined human dystonia, exhibits reduced penetrance among carriers and begins usually during adolescence. The reasons for such age dependence and variability remain unclear...

..Alterations in blood-brain barrier permeability have been proposed to represent a relevant factor contributing to Parkinson's disease progression. However, few studies have addressed this issue in patients at different stages of disease...

Neuroacanthocytosis associated with a defect of the 4.1R membrane protein

..We report clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in four patients from four unrelated families with NA in order to explain the cause of morphological abnormalities and the relationship with neurodegenerative processes...

..The response to 3,5-DHPG was blocked only by the coadministration of mGluR1 and mGluR5 antagonists, suggesting that both mGluRs are involved in this excitatory effect in striatal cholinergic interneurons...

..The present results demonstrate that, in cortical neurons, O2/glucose deprivation induces an early rise in [Na+]i which cannot be ascribed to the activity of voltage gated Na+-channels, glutamate receptors or of the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger...

..Together, these results suggest that the selective increase in sensitivity of striatal group II mGlu receptors represents an adaptive change in mice in which an altered dopamine metabolism has been documented...

..The characterization of the cellular mechanisms involved in the regulation of striatal interneuron activity is a key step for the understanding of the role of these cells in striatal microcircuitry...

An in vitro electrophysiological study on the effects of phenytoin, lamotrigine and gabapentin on striatal neurons

..These results demonstrate that both dopamine depletion and DJ-1 deletion induce a rearrangement in the HVA Ca2+ channel profile, specifically involving those channels that are selectively modulated by D2 receptors...

Striatal metabotropic glutamate receptors as a target for pharmacotherapy in Parkinson's disease

..In turn, the hyperpolarizing response might be generated both by the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels and by Na+-activated K+ conductances. The increase in [Ca2+]i occurs lately and does not seem to influence the early events...

Differential contribution of dopamine D2S and D2L receptors in the modulation of glutamate and GABA transmission in the striatum

..Understanding the physiological roles of DA D2 receptors in the striatum is essential for the treatment of several neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, schizophrenia, and drug addiction...

..We analyzed the effects of seletracetam (ucb 44212; SEL), a new antiepileptic drug candidate, in an in vitro model of epileptic activity. The activity of SEL was compared to the effects of levetiracetam (LEV; Keppra), in the same assays...

..This review provides a brief survey of the cellular and synaptic actions of group I mGlu receptors, and discusses the potential relevance of these findings in neostriatal function and motor control...

Morphological and functional study of dwarf neurons in the rat striatum

..9% of the recorded neurons). These data suggest that some neurogliaform cells in the striatum of young rat can be identified as dwarf interneurons, that may be dye-coupled with neurons of different classes...

..The understanding of the ionic mechanisms underlying the differential membrane responses to ischemia represents the basis for the development of rational neuroprotective treatments during acute cerebrovascular insults...

Receptor subtypes involved in the presynaptic and postsynaptic actions of dopamine on striatal interneurons

..These results provide evidence for a regional specificity of the electrophysiological abnormalities observed and demonstrate the reproducibility of such alterations in distinct models of DYT1 dystonia. ..

..Conversely, the hyperpolarization did not significantly differ from the one recorded in WT mice. The diverse membrane changes induced by SD inhibition may contribute to the cell-type-specific neuronal death in HD...

..In particular, the aim of the study was to correlate the putative neuroprotective effects with the action of these drugs on fast sodium (Na+) and high-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium (Ca2+) currents...

..We suggest that i-LTP represents a pathological form of synaptic plasticity that may account for the cell type-specific vulnerability observed in striatal spiny neurones following ischaemia and energy deprivation...

..We suggest that an enhanced sensitivity of pre-synaptic inhibitory mGlu2/3 receptors might represent an adaptive change triggered by dopaminergic denervation, which can be reversed by L-DOPA treatment...

..The absence of striatal post-ischemic pote ntiat ion observed in tPA-lacking mice may account for the significant neuroprotection observed in these animals after the occlusion of middle cerebral artery...

Impairment of bidirectional synaptic plasticity in the striatum of a mouse model of DYT1 dystonia: role of endogenous acetylcholine

..More importantly, our results indicate that an unbalanced cholinergic transmission plays a pivotal role in these alterations, providing a clue to understand the ability of anticholinergic agents to restore motor deficits in dystonia...

Pathological synaptic plasticity in the striatum: implications for Parkinson's disease

..We characterized the differential effect of the NR2B subunit antagonist ifenprodil in the induction of activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) and of postischemic LTP as well as in the neuronal damage induced by focal ischemia...

..These results reveal a critical role for PINK1 in DA release and striatal synaptic plasticity in the nigrostriatal circuit and suggest that altered dopaminergic physiology may be a pathogenic precursor to nigrostriatal degeneration...

Acetyl-L-carnitine protects striatal neurons against in vitro ischemia: the role of endogenous acetylcholine

..These findings show that ALC exert a neuroprotective action against in vitro ischemia. This neuroprotective effect requires the activity of choline uptake system and the activation of M2 muscarinic receptors...

..Inhibition of arginase slows the progression of CRF in remnant rats similarly to arginine-treated rats; the better histological protection in MNF rats, however, suggests that additional factors are involved in these modifications...

High endogenous cannabinoid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of untreated Parkinson's disease patients